QA/G-5 provides guidance on developing Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) that will meet EPA expectations and requirements. This document provides a linkage between the DQO process and the QAPP. It contains tips, advice, and case studies to help users develop improved QAPPs.

The introduction to the document provides an overview for the target audience emphasizing the importance of systematic planning for geospatial data projects and its relationship to the Agency’s Quality System. The second chapter delineates the EPA policies on QA Project Plans. The third chapter discusses how QA Project Plan elements can be applied to geospatial data projects. The fourth chapter describes approaches to QA Project Plan elements for a geospatial module portion of a complex multi-organization project in risk assessment modeling as well as less complicated projects for a routine global positioning survey and creating a cartographic product from a spreadsheet to illustrate application of the graded approach discussed in Chapter 1.

QA/G-5i will provide guidance on data quality indicators (DQIs), including the PARRC parameters (i.e., precision, accuracy, reproducibility, representativeness, and comparability) and how they fit into the implementation of the DQO process. The guidance discusses the role of DQIs in sampling and analytical measurements.

Peer review of this document is complete. A final version has been drafted but has not been released as yet. Target date: Unknown.

This document contains Standard Operating Procedures used by EPA Region 4 for sample collection and other field activities. This document may be useful to others, as example Standard Operating Procedures for similar activities. Any organization that uses these Standard Operating Procedures assumes responsibility for their content and applicability to their specific situation.

Requirements Documents (identified as QA/R-x) will also be the subject of chapters in the EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs. The Quality Manual requirements will apply to EPA Program Offices, Regions, and ORD laboratories. The QA/R-x versions will apply to EPA contractors and organizations receiving financial assistance from EPA (e.g., grants, cooperative agreements, and inter-agency agreements). They also will be issued as policy documents under the signature of the AA/OEI.

Guidance Documents (identified as QA/G-x) will be published as OEI reports after the appropriate peer and policy reviews and issued under the signature of the AA/OEI.

Other EPA Program and Region QA-Related Documents

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Region 10 Quality Management Plan

This document defines and describes the Quality Management (QM), Quality Assurance (QA), and Quality Control (QC) policies and responsibilities required by Region 10, in concurrence with the Agency's mandated QM program.